Casa Cactus

Scope: Full-service design, build, and operation

Casa Cactus is a 3000SF duplex constructed in 2023 in Port Isabel, Texas. Situated perfectly between the tranquil beaches of South Padre Island and the rapidly-growing SpaceX launch site, the property was designed for the purpose of operation as a short or midterm rental. The house consists of a 3 bedroom 2 bath front Casa, a 2 bedroom 2 bath back Casa, and a 1 bed 1 bath granny flat. When designing the floor plan, special emphasis was put on maximizing the number of guests each “casa” could sleep, as well as creating a dedicated laundry & storage room (with no less than 6 washers and dryers!) accessible from the exterior of the house specially dedicated for cleaning staff when turning over the space between guests. It was also important for the floor plan to be designed with future sale of the duplex in mind - this meant constructing the home with separate metered utilities for each casa, and with a flexible floor plan that could easily be renovated to remove the laundry room and granny flat in case future owners use the space as a primary residence. The construction of the home took 8 months with an all-in build and interior design budget of $500,000. home came in $20,000 under budget.

The inspiration for this home was a classic southwest minimalist retreat, reminiscent of desert days in Marfa. Polished concrete floors, solid ash cabinetry, and creamy quartz countertops were selected for their durability and ease of maintenance, and matte black and unlacquered brass fixtures were installed to bring in elements of modernity and warmth. Special emphasis was put on layering cozy textiles and sourcing fixtures woven with natural materials from around the world. Instead of a front lawn, drought-resistant and hardy cacti and plants surround the property, providing a beautiful and low-water landscape solution.

Casa Cactus was proof of concept that a new construction home can be built quickly, affordably, and with the highest design principles in mind.